NoMo restaurants are booming! Located in the East Central area of the upper peninsula of Charleston, NoMo gets its name from being located on the north end of the peninsula on Morrison Drive — though many would argue that Morrison in itself is all north. You may know it as the north end of East Bay Street.

The up-and-coming ‘hood’s location means cheaper rent and lots of room for development. And as the city continues to grow, so do the possibilities.

The name NoMo was really cemented with the construction of student housing on Morrison Drive, called 930 NoMo. Like the name or not — there was a bit of controversy! — NoMo has really taken off the past couple of years… but you can still call it East Central if you like.

Places like Tattooed Moose (the duck fat fries are the best) and Santi’s (great Mexican food and margaritas) made their claim to the area long before it got trendy. But other eateries have since arrived, turning it into a popular place to be.

Here are five new(ish) restaurants in NoMo that are helping the neighborhood make a name for itself.

Lewis opened last year with a bang, its mouth-watering Texas-style brisket giving its new Lowcountry fans a lot to moan about. Pitmaster John Lewis spent a decade perfecting his BBQ magic, a tradition that runs in his family, before arriving in downtown Charleston. But it’s not all brisket — and if you’re not in the mood for a line you can order a BBQ sandwich via a special window outside. The cocktails and craft beer are pretty special too, particularly when enjoyed on the patio.

Edmund’s Oast is upscale and a great spot for dining when you want to do it right. If you’re wanting to simply sample it first, go during happy hour for some killer food and drink deals. Top tip: the brunch is some of the best in town and a perfect destination for showing off the city’s culinary greatness to visiting friends and family.

Goat. Sheep. Cow. earned a wonderful local reputation as a cheesemonger and cozy deli with a popular sandwich-of-the-day in its south of Broad spot before landing in NoMo late last year with a much more expansive space. If you’re looking for a fun place for wine, cheese, a bit of prosciutto, and plenty of conversation, bring a friend or two to the city’s premiere fromagerie.

It was a sad day for Charleston, especially those in search of something to munch on late at night, when Butcher & Bee shut its King Street locale. So you can imagine the rejoicing when it re-opened last summer in NoMo. The restaurant wanted a bigger space, and that is exactly what it found, and then some, in its new spot. They also serve everything from brunch to lunch to, yes, late dinners til 2 a.m. Top tip: the burger is the best.

Home Team has enjoyed success in West Ashley and Sullivan’s Island, so naturally it was only a matter of time before it made its way downtown. Home Team arrived on the block before Lewis and, more recently, Rodney Scott moved in to turn the surrounding area into a BBQ destination. This location has the same favorites as the others — best wings in town, a comfortably casual feel. But downtown’s Home Team comes with more music, welcoming such greats as BB King’s son, because the blues and BBQ just go hand in hand.
What’s your favorite of the new (and not-so new) NoMo restaurants?

Last night I went with a friend to Uncorked – an unpretentious wine bar in Mt. Pleasant’s Belle Hall shopping center off Long Point Rd. Uncorked opened about five months ago. They have a wide assortment of wines, a few craft beers, a decent selection of chocolate and also cheeses. Charcuterie is coming soon and I can only hope some olives as well. The owner David Willis, manager William Bennett, and assistant manager Peter Demarest are very informed about their wines and cheeses and happy to share their knowledge and their opinions in a fresh, light-hearted way. In no way is this place boring or snobbish. It’s an intimate space with a small bar, a sofa, two upholstered chairs and a few tables and chairs inside and out. It’s a comfortable, low-key and yes truly as they claim an unpretentious wine bar. A perfect place for a first date, a girls’ happy hour, heck, I think I’d have no problem going there alone and reading a book while sipping from a glass of prosecco and nibbling on bonbons (the pecan pie and double shot latte bon bons rocked my sweet tooth).

Sit down, relax, sip, nibble and enjoy!

I must admit I have paid today for my night out at Uncorked, I have a cheese hangover. Seriously, we ate a lot of cheese and after our chocolate plate, we decided we wanted more – the owner was extra nice and plied us with a few extra cheese options to try. I couldn’t say no. Nothing disappointed. I don’t know when I’ll be able to eat cheese again and the mention of the word cheese is not sitting well with me today. Which is unfortunate because today I found out about THIS-

Goat~Sheep~Cow. Newly opened at 106 Church St. in downtown Charleston there is a little gem with a Parisian feel and their focus is CHEESE! I read this awesome story on one of my favorite blogs Read Charlie. They have almost 200 kinds of cheeses. Now that is my kind of crazy. I can’t wait to go there. I think it will have to wait until next weekend, however. When I do, I will report. But from reading the article and checking out their website, how could they disappoint any cheese lover?